Natural Gas Daily quotes South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin on how Russia’s relationship with Iran may affect affect nuclear negotiations with the P5+1 countries:
Russia is looking to realign and strengthen its non-western economic and political ties in the wake of deteriorating relations with the Europe and the US. However, experts have said Moscow’s most likely immediate motive for announcing the deal is for publicity purposes rather than strategic gain.
“Everything I hear from the P5+1 negotiations suggests Russia is committed to the talks and does not want to relieve pressure on Iran until a deal is reached,” Barbara Slavin, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said. “My sense is that Russia is looking for a PR victory to counteract new Ukraine-related sanctions and Iran is willing to oblige in an effort to show it is not being cowed by Western sanctions either.”